The Kingdoms of this WorldWhat is this “Mark of the Beast”? I believe a spirit that is pervasive in the people rises up a man to accomplish its will. We have discussed the idea, and suspected that George W. Bush may very well be the “son of perdition” the Antichrist. The hardest thing to believe about it is; “Can this really be happening?” We all like to think “Some time in the future, but not in my lifetime.” Or another land or religion, but the Bible says “They went out from us, but they were not of us.” The truth is He is here now. The time is right the place is right and George W. Bush’s spirit is certainly a match. Prince of lies, Ruler of this world, Lusting for Money and Power, Ruthless, Torturing, Killing, Cheating, Deceiving and being Deceived. 2Tim. 3: 1: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (notice he is telling the church that perilous times shall come, because they need to know this. If we were going to be raptured out before, why would Paul be warning us about them?) 2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3: Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4: Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”. (For more on Bush-Antichrist see Stephen Hanchett’s page> http://www.bushisantichrist.com/ I would also recommend his book.)
It is important to understand though that The Antichrist is not just a man, but the entire system of men that is contrary to the Kingdom of God. We are raised in a society that looks up to and idolizes the rich and famous. If you don’t think so, just watch people gush over celebrities, as though they were someone to be admired. It is as though we think that “gain is godliness” but in fact the Bible says that these are “men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth .. from such withdraw thyself.” Oh but we are supposed to be successful, and climb the corporate ladder. We want a “comfortable” life, so we fall into this lie and trap. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” 1Tim. 6:5-9. What does this mean, and how does it affect us? How should true believers be living now and what should we be doing now? This whole system is corrupt when we will pay a basket ball player 100 million dollars to put a ball in a hoop but won't take care of health care or the poor. Do we think that democracy and capitalism is the Kingdom of God? Or is it of the spirit of Antichrist? We are living in the revival of the Roman empire. (as is explained in my post “Revival of the Roman Empire”).
I hear a lot of discussion and fear about implants that are now available and may become pervasive. These are devices that have some kind of chip that will recognize you and give you a clearance based on your identity. People are talking about them being placed in their foreheads and hands and are worried about these devises being the “Mark of the Beast”. Surely you realize that the Devil is more subtle than that. Look at the shiny keys! Distract form the true Mark. I would tell you that there are many of the “Fundamentalists” that know these verses in scripture that are worried about taking this device and would never allow it and have the Mark clearly implanted deep. On the other hand, if I in doing battle for Christ were put in prison, and drugged, then with out my knowledge or permission had been implanted with a chip, do you think I would be counted as belonging to the Beast? Let me say that I do not believe that these things in them selves are the “ Mark of the Beast”, any more than a cell phone is.
To some degree most of societies already has been wearing this mark. Prov:27:23: “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. 24: For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?” The scripture is telling us to not be too caught up in the kingdoms of this world, but keep your eye on those things that are important for your basic needs. How many today would be able to grow there own food if their life depended on it? Things were much different just a 100 years ago. Mt:6:26: “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27: Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28: And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30: Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32: (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34: Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” In the cities like New York you see all the lonely people deceiving themselves, trying to make themselves happy with buying the latest designer do-dad. They think their money can buy their happiness, and that this is the way things have always been and things will always be this way. 2Pt:3:3: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4: And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
As many of you may know the Greek and Hebrew used their alphabet for numbers, and numbers have meaning. This is why in Revelation we see a number that has a meaning. The Bible gives us the keys to understanding the meanings by the way they are used. There are several books available on the subject. I will give you a few that are relevant here. The number 3 is the number for divinity (trinity) and 8 the number of new beginnings, resurrection and life. Jesus rose on the 8th day of the week, or the first day of the new week. This signified a new beginning a new day. That is why the early church met on the 8th day, it was a breaking from the Old Testament Sabbath. To the Christian our rest is in the Lord, it doesn’t matter what day it is. The name Jesus in Greek, Iησους (iota=10, eta=8, sigma=200, omikron=70, upsilon=400, sigma=200 ) adds up to 888. This name and its numerical value speak very well for him; Divine Resurrection and Life. 6 is the number of man (God created man on the sixth day). So with antichrist we have 3 sixes. He has 3 because he will “be as God” Gen:3:5. Christ was God making himself man = 888, Antichrist is Man making himself God = 666. That is the essence of the spirit of Antichrist. In the Garden this was the lie the devil told them. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Ever since, man has thought he was his own god, deciding for him self, what is good and what is evil. This is the whole idea of relativism. We all have our own truth. You have heard some say, “well that may be true for you”. Truth is true even if you don’t believe it. If you are standing in front of a train and you don’t believe it is coming does that mean it won’t hit you? It is not just a question of believing something that makes it true, even if you have no doubt. If someone had stolen your engine out of your car, and you went out to start it fully believing it would start, it still would not, because there was no engine, and you would have believed a lie. If you don’t believe the devil exists, that does not mean he doesn’t. Truth is discovered as we seek, and it is personified in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. “I am the truth”.If man is the problem, man is not the answer, yet he continues to worship the works of his own hands.
Right in the heart of NYC, on Fifth Ave, the only building that had it's numbers displayed on it and lighted up in RED at the top of the building, was 666 Fifth Ave. ( pictured above) Red is the color of man, the name Adam means Red Blood. Here is a link to the picture above> http://www.fashion-planet.com/windows/666/index.html . This sign had been there for over 40 years. After 9/11, and the Bush administration was in control, the name was changed to “Citi” the banking giant, representing the money power and god Mammon. 1Tm:6:10: “For the love of money is the root of ALL evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Now that the Beast is being manifested, the sign 666 could come down ( it was as though it was fore telling his coming). Yeah, tell me this is all just coincidence.
NYC represents the height of man making himself god and the worship of the works of his hands. Rv:13:16: “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:” BE NOT DECEIVED!! The mark in your forehead and in your hand speaks of who you serve with your mind-forehead and body-hand, or mentally and physically. 17:” And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name”. Notice it says ALL!!! including the small, poor and the free. That would seem to include the saints. None of us today are able to feed our families or take care of our needs without serving this antichrist beast system to some degree. We can not buy or sell without being on this grid, and a part of the system. The difference is, those that belong to the beast, believe in this system. Those that belong to God hunger and thirst for Gods kingdom. Those that are of the beast are the ME first people, seeking to get more money and power. Those that belong to the Lord seek first the Kingdom of God. They help others and minister unto the Lord. They Mt:6:20: “lay up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Remember God resists the proud. We are in the world, but not of it. Your job or career is not your provider, the Lord is. The great Whore Babylon false religion and the religious right give power and justification to this Beast. The just shall live by faith.
34 comments:
Excellent post, Peter. We all need to focus on building up our treasures in heaven, and not on this earth. We must live for Christ's kingdom, not man's.
But I still would not make light of the mark of the beast as a physical realization. In Rev 13:15-16, when it is talking about the beast government system (NWO) it says “and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:” I think that although much of the system is in place, it isn’t solidified, but will be soon when the barriers to totalitarian control is removed.
And then later, it says in Rev 14:9-11 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
And later in Rev 16:2 "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
And again in Rev 20:4 “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgement was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their forehead, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
So if it gets to the point, and it seems likely, where u either have to accept an implant and renounce religious affiliation (like I believe will happen once all religions are successfully demonized) or die, I’ll die. Not having an implant isn’t a ‘get out of jail free card’ but I think the issue will come to a head sometime soon. But I think those that share that fate sadly will be the ones who refuse to wake up from this world no matter how much God has and will in the future shake his poeple out of it through events and tribulations.
I know I would rather die than take ANY mark belonging to Satan.
And, maybe, that could be the mark in my forehead. I can fully accept the revelation of the mark of the beast as not being physical.
When I heard that story about Katrina victims being chipped, I also heard that some of the Mexican army was brought over here to help chip the bodies (why chip dead bodies? practice?) because so many people in Mexico already had the chips. Maybe just propoganda used to confuse (like that would be a first). They are that deceptive and probably would have to be more subtle. Many people who don't know Yahshua have heard of the mark of the beast so they might not be as accepting as expected. It could also explain why people who are so wrapped up in this world and what they can get from it that they can't see the trees for the forest. (Which still astounds me, but that's just the way it's going to be; the light gets lighter and the dark gets darker). Let's all say our thanks right now for being in the light. I'm thankful that we're in the light together. Don't mean to get all sappy, but you guys and this site bring it out of me. All the time.
Maybe something else from organized religion to get past; the mark is your heart condition and God is not the only one to see it. Maybe the evil one can see it also because he hates all that is good and we can't be swayed from God by anything - what a triumph again for us from our Savior.
Susanne
God is good all the time. Amen.
Susanne
For the record, if some stormtrooper came up to me with a gun to my head and an ultimatum to be chipped or die...I would gladly die. I'm really not so sure they will be that blatant, however...still mulling over and praying...
I feel that there are two aspects of these "last days". there is the spiritual unfolding, and the physical imitation. The spiritual unfolding contains the redeeming power and true "infinite justice" of our Father God in his plan to judge and purify man-kind and this planet.
The physical mimic contains Satan's plot to usurp that plan, to deceive the people and to bring about destruction on all people and this planet.
Case in point, the "nation" of Israel, reinstated after the Nazi Holocaust, the center of conflict in the middle-eastern area, probably the catalyst that will usher us into this next, nuclear World War. Israel is a hot spot, and there is no denying the Devil's power of using it to polarize the World in readiness for the Last Battle.
The "Israel" referred to by John of Patmos in Revelation is not a landmass. It is the body of Christ, the bride of Christ, the sons and daughters of our father God (one and the same).
If you look at Apocalyptic prophecy, you will find consistantly that there are two main interpretations of it, one of the spirit, another of the flesh.
this "chip" is the interpretation of the flesh, and to think that being forced to wear it would damn my soul...that is along the lines of the rapture doctrine.
Now I'm not going to actively seek to be "chipped" but to be honest I'm not willing to base my eternal salvation on not having it either.To the extent of my own understanding our salvation is a gift of God through the blood of his Son Christ. No human technology can interfere with that. So be strong, brothers and sisters, do not fret...for we are Hid In Christ.
Yes, there is both the spiritual and the physical intimation of things. It is all up to God's Will, both the spiritual and the physical, and if you are chosen by God's Will and through his grace you will know what to do.
Just like when God's people were called out of Egypt, God sent his angel of death to strike down the first born sons. And there were set instructions for the angel to passover the house and not strike down those sons. Now obviously, God could have just sent his angel to the Egyptians, to the slaveowners and not the slaves. But there was the physical intimation of putting the mark on the door to show that you are one of God's chosen to not have your first born son struck down. And the people who were in God's Will to be protected followed the instructions and were protected by that same Will.
So now is the time to pray and repent and make ourselves spiritually prepared for the Lord, and hope that His Grace will come to us and we will be saved. Thus we won't have the mark of the beast in our minds and, as the prophecy relates, in our hands either. Revelation says they are connected, and I believe that it is true, and there will come a point when those who do not have the mark of the beast in their minds will know, by God's Grace, that His Will is for them not to have the mark in their hands as well, whatever manner that mark will be.
Little Brother:
I surely agree with your comments about 'Israel'. It is concerning to me how many presumed Christians are "Zionists", and judge the faith of others based upon whether they are good Zionists as well or not. Much of this ground swell deception can be traced from the book by Hal Lindsay which construed the endtime events to be revolving around the state of Israel. This was followed up by the Tim LaHaye series. Were not both of these works published and hyped by media corporations of the established order, and at great profit?
Good point tronicus. Follow the money trail to get to the root of lies. Anyone asking for a handout to further their ministry should be mistrusted at first as a matter of course. the body of Christ gives first...takes only what it needs, and works hard for the rest of the body.
If you hop over to Hanchetts blog and check out his March (or February) archives, you will get a taste of some rootin' tootin' Hal Lindsay rebukin'! Check out my blog as well, I have a new post entitled "We have no King but Caesar!" you might be intersted in
click on the "young brother" link to read more.
God Bless!
I am refreshed to hear someone explain what I have been attempting to for sometime now...though you have worded it a bit differently, you might like to see that you are not alone...My blog is titled, "A Conclusion, The End of the Matter by Aman. http://hughman8.blogspot.com
It is important that God's people be of one mind...and I believe that is His mark that He seals us in...which is truth...that which agrees with the final reality...Which is God's reality...not what some may want to perceive as reality.
I have recently had the good pleasure to become aquainted with young brother,and wildfire...they directed me here to your blog via email and from a comment board by Steve Hanchet called Bush as antichrist.from what I've gathered from these many bloggers...we all seem to share the same views in many respects...and it is my belief that we hold a tremendous responsibility which I hold with much grief in my heart...because with the rise in this present evil, there is strong dillusion that makes reaching many a difficult prospect, as they are more inclined to believe the lie.
It has, to me, become a desperate and urgent plea for as many as will believe.
Susanne, I have banned this man Watchman from my site, He is a divider, and is not welcome here. You have answered your own question about "J" Jesus name wasn't spelled with a J it started in Greek with Iota and eta which together have a J sound. that is why we use it. or it could be Yasus. This whole controversy takes away from the sovereignty of God. He is able to guide us into all truth. I will go more into this in another post. Trust your heart and not the fear in this.
Welcome Hughman, and well said, I saw your posts and It would seem you have been turned on with the everlasting Light.
Wonderful post Peterz. I haven't posted much lately due to recoperating from a cold, also My Dad was ill and was in the hospital. He turned 85 Jan 7th, He is doing ok now and home, he had ulcers. With my family thing going on I haven't been keeping up a lot or much felt like Bush. Of course all one has to do is flip on television and soon it's all back in your mind again. The miners in W. Virginia, and then Ariel Sharone's stroke and Iran going back to doing their nuclear experiments, and the other day the 15 yr old boy in Florida about the pellet gun. Also I seen on TV yesterday Mrs Bush saying she would love to see Condolessa Rice run for president. So many things to think about sometimes.
I think we just have to trust in the lord and have patience. Also to love our family and friends, be good to them and cherish the time we have with them. Hard to say how much time any of us has. God bless everyone, I will post more later. Kevin G
Kevin G,
This world and this system of things can be very trying and wearysome for us who see true evil perpetuating itself more and more every day. But it is our duty and responsibility to remain positive with the love and hope of Jesus. Take rest in Him. Remember all good comes from Him and remember the promise of salvation that is yours through Grace and put this world behind you and look to Him for strength. I have been where you are at (many times) and He always turns it around for me when I can't take it anymore. He is our rock and we must never forget that. He is always in control.
Glad to hear your father is doing better. There's always something to be thankful and grateful for. Give Him praises and I guarantee your mood will lift. Take care and stay strong in Jesus and the rest will take care of itself.
God will bless you,
Susanne
PeterZ,
I would just like to take a minute and tell you how much I appreciate your devotion and hard work on this site. You should be honored in the way He uses you and I am glad that you let Him. I can see His hand guiding you and I want you to know how important it is to me in my life for the guidance that it gives in these times we are dealing with.
I feel so encouraged and strengthened and blessed to be here. Thank you.
Susanne
To the Anonymous poster asking for watchman,... I may have been born at night, but not last night. You know who you are, and so do I. You also know where to find watchman if you want him. You are correct I do fear the Truth. Jesus said "I am the Truth" and since He is God and since I fear God, and His charge to me to be a faithful steward of His commission in my life you could say I fear "The Truth" Col:2:9: For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. He is more than welcome to delete my posts off his site. I have no need to prove anything. You have also lied, you said you were done here, yet you keep coming back.
This was posted by me on Hanchett's blog. This should answer why Watchman is not allowed on this blog.
Meek....I am sure this will anger you but it is not meant to, and it is the truth, You are a Child, you have gotten taken in with a another brand of Pharisee. I am not insulting you by saying you are a child, I am merely pointing that out so you will understand how vulnerable you are. Please do not think more highly of your self than you ought. The scripture you quoted in Matthew, you seemed to miss the part where Jesus said He had come to fulfill the Law. It is Jesus that fulfills the law. He has and he will. He, at the time He spoke those things, was speaking to the crowd to convict all of sin so they would recognize their need for a savior. If you don't believe me, then you go and try to fulfill all the things he said in those verses. Are you going to pluck out your eye vs. 29. if you look at a man with desire? You quoted the love one another scripture, but Watcher has separated you from the rest of the flock with a pride and arrogance. He has spread malicious gossip via email about me to attack my character and steel the sheep to build his ministry. He has mocked and belittled Peace on his site. He claims to not be building a church so you think he has no self ambition, but in an email to Peace told her that he expects tens of thousands of people to be visiting his site in the next few months. Did you notice the polish of that site? with chat rooms and all kinds of bells and whistles?
Did you notice his tab for contributions? You figure it out. Lots of offerings, without having to answer to a congregation of people that can actually see your life. Do you see an offering button on either mine or Hanchett's site? This man has all the markings of a cult leader. Have you ever taken the effort to look into this heresy you have blindly thrown yourself into? Do yourself a favor and Google "Sacred Name" Here is a link of one that is brief but to the point.
http://www.sacrednamemovement.com/ I am sure he would respond to this by an attack and by saying he is being persecuted for Christ's sake.
1Pt:5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Let us overcome internal squabbles and strifes and prideful turf wars and power struggles and get back to being one Body of Christ.
Let us love our neighbor as ourselves, no matter if he or she doesn't share the same opinion as ours in all ways, or has a great personality, or looks like us, or even if that person has wronged us.
Loving our neighbor is easy to do when everyone looks the same and shares the same opinions on everything, but this is not just what Christ teaches. He teaches a higher calling, to love strangers, and to even love enemies, to even love those that persecute you. With that perspective, we can get through this.
This was posted on Hanchett's blog & I moved it here also.
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye
These are very wise words now lets look at the whole picture & ask ourselves if this may apply to yourself.
First this is a blog about is Bush the anti-crist. Well he certainly fits the description of an anti-crist but is it him that created the situation we are in ? (and I am not talking about the war because he is obviously responsible for that but he could not do it with out our help)
What created the environment for this person or people to be in the position they are in?
Why did they go to war in Iraq? Was it to free the people of a tyrant or was it to make a lot of money from the oil? I think I can safely assume what your answer is so I will ask you another question do you drive a car that runs on that oil ? Do you use that oil to heat your home? If so do you pay for this oil with your hard earned money? Do you buy their electricity that is made by the use of this oil? Do we live in a house with furniture that we built ourself with materials we gathered ourself or do we live in a home with furniture built for us with materials such as wood striped from a forest that no longer exists? Do we wear clothes made by our own hands or do we buy clothes from a store that were made in some sweat shop in southeast asia by 10yr old children for 10 cents an hour? Do we eat food that we grow, raise or hunt for ourself or do we buy food grown with chemicals & pesticides that pollute our waters or animals raised for slaughter filled with hormones & steroids living in inhumane conditions? I could go on & on but I think you should get the point by now, if not you never will. You see if we would remove the plank from our own eye their would be no anti-crist system. Without us they can not exist. For you see if we took care of ourselves first we would not have to worry about what our brothers were doing. We expect our govt & corporations to provide these things for us setting them up over us as gods. (false gods I might add) Then we expect them to do things properly & humanely but as the old saying goes if you want something done right you have to do it YOURSELF. Now you can all pick your stones up & start throwing them at me.
Anonymous | 01.18.06 - 10:21 am | #
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Thank you for that Anonymous...
Very well said, That was my point when I said that a spirit raises up a man.
Amen
thank you peterz
Much of what people do is done in the name of God. Irishmen blow each other up in his name. Arabs blow themselves up in his name. Imams and ayatollahs oppress women in his name. Celibate popes and priests mess up people's sex lives in his name. Jewish shohets cut live animals' throats in his name. The achievements of religion in past history -- bloody crusades, torturing inquisitions, mass-murdering conquistadors, culture-destroying missionaries, legally enforced resistance to each new piece of scientific truth until the last possible moment -- are even more impressive. And what has it all been in aid of? I believe it is becoming increasingly clear that the answer is absolutely nothing at all. There is no reason for believing that any sort of gods exist and quite good reason for believing that they do not exist and never have. It has all been a gigantic waste of time and a waste of life. It would be a joke of cosmic proportions if it weren't so tragic.
Why do people believe in God? For most people the answer is still some version of the ancient Argument from Design. We look about us at the beauty and intricacy of the world -- at the aerodynamic sweep of a swallow's wing, at the delicacy of flowers and of the butterflies that fertilize them, through a microscope at the teeming life in every drop of pond water, through a telescope at the crown of a giant redwood tree. We reflect on the electronic complexity and optical perfection of our own eyes that do the looking. If we have any imagination, these things drive us to a sense of awe and reverence. Moreover, we cannot fail to be struck by the obvious resemblance of living organs to the carefully planned designs of human engineers. The argument was most famously expressed in the watchmaker analogy of the eighteenth-century priest William Paley. Even if you didn't know what a watch was, the obviously designed character of its cogs and springs and of how they mesh together for a purpose would force you to conclude "that the watch must have had a maker: that there must have existed, at some time, and at some place or other, an artificer or artificers, who formed it for the purpose which we find it actually to answer; who comprehended its construction, and designed its use." If this is true of a comparatively simple watch, how much the more so is it true of the eye, ear, kidney, elbow joint, brain? These beautiful, complex, intricate, and obviously purpose-built structures must have had their own designer, their own watchmaker -- God.
So ran Paley's argument, and it is an argument that nearly all thoughtful and sensitive people discover for themselves at some stage in their childhood. Throughout most of history it must have seemed utterly convincing, self-evidently true. And yet, as the result of one of the most astonishing intellectual revolutions in history, we now know that it is wrong, or at least superfluous. We now know that the order and apparent purposefulness of the living world has come about through an entirely different process, a process that works without the need for any designer and one that is a consequence of basically very simple laws of physics. This is the process of evolution by natural selection, discovered by Charles Darwin and, independently, by Alfred Russel Wallace.
What do all objects that look as if they must have had a designer have in common? The answer is statistical improbability. If we find a transparent pebble washed into the shape of a crude lens by the sea, we do not conclude that it must have been designed by an optician: the unaided laws of physics are capable of achieving this result; it is not too improbable to have just "happened." But if we find an elaborate compound lens, carefully corrected against spherical and chromatic aberration, coated against glare, and with "Carl Zeiss" engraved on the rim, we know that it could not have just happened by chance. If you take all the atoms of such a compound lens and throw them together at random under the jostling influence of the ordinary laws of physics in nature, it is theoretically possible that, by sheer luck, the atoms would just happen to fall into the pattern of a Zeiss compound lens, and even that the atoms round the rim should happen to fall in such a way that the name Carl Zeiss is etched out. But the number of other ways in which the atoms could, with equal likelihood, have fallen, is so hugely, vastly, immeasurably greater that we can completely discount the chance hypothesis. Chance is out of the question as an explanation.
This is not a circular argument, by the way. It might seem to be circular because, it could be said, any particular arrangement of atoms is, with hindsight, very improbable. As has been said before, when a ball lands on a particular blade of grass on the golf course, it would be foolish to exclaim: "Out of all the billions of blades of grass that it could have fallen on, the ball actually fell on this one. How amazingly, miraculously improbable!" The fallacy here, of course, is that the ball had to land somewhere. We can only stand amazed at the improbability of the actual event if we specify it a priori: for example, if a blindfolded man spins himself round on the tee, hits the ball at random, and achieves a hole in one. That would be truly amazing, because the target destination of the ball is specified in advance.
Of all the trillions of different ways of putting together the atoms of a telescope, only a minority would actually work in some useful way. Only a tiny minority would have Carl Zeiss engraved on them, or, indeed, any recognizable words of any human language. The same goes for the parts of a watch: of all the billions of possible ways of putting them together, only a tiny minority will tell the time or do anything useful. And of course the same goes, a fortiori, for the parts of a living body. Of all the trillions of trillions of ways of putting together the parts of a body, only an infinitesimal minority would live, seek food, eat, and reproduce. True, there are many different ways of being alive -- at least ten million different ways if we count the number of distinct species alive today -- but, however many ways there may be of being alive, it is certain that there are vastly more ways of being dead!
We can safely conclude that living bodies are billions of times too complicated -- too statistically improbable -- to have come into being by sheer chance. How, then, did they come into being? The answer is that chance enters into the story, but not a single, monolithic act of chance. Instead, a whole series of tiny chance steps, each one small enough to be a believable product of its predecessor, occurred one after the other in sequence. These small steps of chance are caused by genetic mutations, random changes -- mistakes really -- in the genetic material. They give rise to changes in the existing bodily structure. Most of these changes are deleterious and lead to death. A minority of them turn out to be slight improvements, leading to increased survival and reproduction. By this process of natural selection, those random changes that turn out to be beneficial eventually spread through the species and become the norm. The stage is now set for the next small change in the evolutionary process. After, say, a thousand of these small changes in series, each change providing the basis for the next, the end result has become, by a process of accumulation, far too complex to have come about in a single act of chance.
For instance, it is theoretically possible for an eye to spring into being, in a single lucky step, from nothing: from bare skin, let's say. It is theoretically possible in the sense that a recipe could be written out in the form of a large number of mutations. If all these mutations happened simultaneously, a complete eye could, indeed, spring from nothing. But although it is theoretically possible, it is in practice inconceivable. The quantity of luck involved is much too large. The "correct" recipe involves changes in a huge number of genes simultaneously. The correct recipe is one particular combination of changes out of trillions of equally probable combinations of chances. We can certainly rule out such a miraculous coincidence. But it is perfectly plausible that the modern eye could have sprung from something almost the same as the modern eye but not quite: a very slightly less elaborate eye. By the same argument, this slightly less elaborate eye sprang from a slightly less elaborate eye still, and so on. If you assume a sufficiently large number of sufficiently small differences between each evolutionary stage and its predecessor, you are bound to be able to derive a full, complex, working eye from bare skin. How many intermediate stages are we allowed to postulate? That depends on how much time we have to play with. Has there been enough time for eyes to evolve by little steps from nothing?
The fossils tell us that life has been evolving on Earth for more than 3,000 million years. It is almost impossible for the human mind to grasp such an immensity of time. We, naturally and mercifully, tend to see our own expected lifetime as a fairly long time, but we can't expect to live even one century. It is 2,000 years since Jesus lived, a time span long enough to blur the distinction between history and myth. Can you imagine a million such periods laid end to end? Suppose we wanted to write the whole history on a single long scroll. If we crammed all of Common Era history into one metre of scroll, how long would the pre-Common Era part of the scroll, back to the start of evolution, be? The answer is that the pre-Common Era part of the scroll would stretch from Milan to Moscow. Think of the implications of this for the quantity of evolutionary change that can be accommodated. All the domestic breeds of dogs -- Pekingeses, poodles, spaniels, Saint Bernards, and Chihuahuas -- have come from wolves in a time span measured in hundreds or at the most thousands of years: no more than two meters along the road from Milan to Moscow. Think of the quantity of change involved in going from a wolf to a Pekingese; now multiply that quantity of change by a million. When you look at it like that, it becomes easy to believe that an eye could have evolved from no eye by small degrees.
It remains necessary to satisfy ourselves that every one of the intermediates on the evolutionary route, say from bare skin to a modern eye, would have been favored by natural selection; would have been an improvement over its predecessor in the sequence or at least would have survived. It is no good proving to ourselves that there is theoretically a chain of almost perceptibly different intermediates leading to an eye if many of those intermediates would have died. It is sometimes argued that the parts of an eye have to be all there together or the eye won't work at all. Half an eye, the argument runs, is no better than no eye at all. You can't fly with half a wing; you can't hear with half an ear. Therefore there can't have been a series of step-by-step intermediates leading up to a modern eye, wing, or ear.
This type of argument is so naive that one can only wonder at the subconscious motives for wanting to believe it. It is obviously not true that half an eye is useless. Cataract sufferers who have had their lenses surgically removed cannot see very well without glasses, but they are still much better off than people with no eyes at all. Without a lens you can't focus a detailed image, but you can avoid bumping into obstacles and you could detect the looming shadow of a predator.
As for the argument that you can't fly with only half a wing, it is disproved by large numbers of very successful gliding animals, including mammals of many different kinds, lizards, frogs, snakes, and squids. Many different kinds of tree-dwelling animals have flaps of skin between their joints that really are fractional wings. If you fall out of a tree, any skin flap or flattening of the body that increases your surface area can save your life. And, however small or large your flaps may be, there must always be a critical height such that, if you fall from a tree of that height, your life would have been saved by just a little bit more surface area. Then, when your descendants have evolved that extra surface area, their lives would be saved by just a bit more still if they fell from trees of a slightly greater height. And so on by insensibly graded steps until, hundreds of generations later, we arrive at full wings.
Eyes and wings cannot spring into existence in a single step. That would be like having the almost infinite luck to hit upon the combination number that opens a large bank vault. But if you spun the dials of the lock at random, and every time you got a little bit closer to the lucky number the vault door creaked open another chink, you would soon have the door open! Essentially, that is the secret of how evolution by natural selection achieves what once seemed impossible. Things that cannot plausibly be derived from very different predecessors can plausibly be derived from only slightly different predecessors. Provided only that there is a sufficiently long series of such slightly different predecessors, you can derive anything from anything else.
Evolution, then, is theoretically capable of doing the job that, once upon a time, seemed to be the prerogative of God. But is there any evidence that evolution actually has happened? The answer is yes; the evidence is overwhelming. Millions of fossils are found in exactly the places and at exactly the depths that we should expect if evolution had happened. Not a single fossil has ever been found in any place where the evolution theory would not have expected it, although this could very easily have happened: a fossil mammal in rocks so old that fishes have not yet arrived, for instance, would be enough to disprove the evolution theory.
The patterns of distribution of living animals and plants on the continents and islands of the world is exactly what would be expected if they had evolved from common ancestors by slow, gradual degrees. The patterns of resemblance among animals and plants is exactly what we should expect if some were close cousins, and others more distant cousins to each other. The fact that the genetic code is the same in all living creatures overwhelmingly suggests that all are descended from one single ancestor. The evidence for evolution is so compelling that the only way to save the creation theory is to assume that God deliberately planted enormous quantities of evidence to make it look as if evolution had happened. In other words, the fossils, the geographical distribution of animals, and so on, are all one gigantic confidence trick. Does anybody want to worship a God capable of such trickery? It is surely far more reverent, as well as more scientifically sensible, to take the evidence at face value. All living creatures are cousins of one another, descended from one remote ancestor that lived more than 3,000 million years ago.
The Argument from Design, then, has been destroyed as a reason for believing in a God. Are there any other arguments? Some people believe in God because of what appears to them to be an inner revelation. Such revelations are not always edifying but they undoubtedly feel real to the individual concerned. Many inhabitants of lunatic asylums have an unshakable inner faith that they are Napoleon or, indeed, God himself. There is no doubting the power of such convictions for those that have them, but this is no reason for the rest of us to believe them. Indeed, since such beliefs are mutually contradictory, we can't believe them all.
There is a little more that needs to be said. Evolution by natural selection explains a lot, but it couldn't start from nothing. It couldn't have started until there was some kind of rudimentary reproduction and heredity. Modern heredity is based on the DNA code, which is itself too complicated to have sprung spontaneously into being by a single act of chance. This seems to mean that there must have been some earlier hereditary system, now disappeared, which was simple enough to have arisen by chance and the laws of chemistry and which provided the medium in which a primitive form of cumulative natural selection could get started. DNA was a later product of this earlier cumulative selection. Before this original kind of natural selection, there was a period when complex chemical compounds were built up from simpler ones and before that a period when the chemical elements were built up from simpler elements, following the well-understood laws of physics. Before that, everything was ultimately built up from pure hydrogen in the immediate aftermath of the big bang, which initiated the universe.
There is a temptation to argue that, although God may not be needed to explain the evolution of complex order once the universe, with its fundamental laws of physics, had begun, we do need a God to explain the origin of all things. This idea doesn't leave God with very much to do: just set off the big bang, then sit back and wait for everything to happen. The physical chemist Peter Atkins, in his beautifully written book The Creation, postulates a lazy God who strove to do as little as possible in order to initiate everything. Atkins explains how each step in the history of the universe followed, by simple physical law, from its predecessor. He thus pares down the amount of work that the lazy creator would need to do and eventually concludes that he would in fact have needed to do nothing at all!
The details of the early phase of the universe belong to the realm of physics, whereas I am a biologist, more concerned with the later phases of the evolution of complexity. For me, the important point is that, even if the physicist needs to postulate an irreducible minimum that had to be present in the beginning, in order for the universe to get started, that irreducible minimum is certainly extremely simple. By definition, explanations that build on simple premises are more plausible and more satisfying than explanations that have to postulate complex and statistically improbable beginnings. And you can't get much more complex than an Almighty God!
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1/19/2006 05:23:55 PM
To the Anonymous above...So what you are saying is that given enough time the impossible becomes possible, and given still more time the possible becomes probable, and then given still more time, the probable becomes what is. Wow, You have more faith than I do. It would take a great deal more faith to believe that this is all a big accident. Who wrote the laws of physics?
by hugh lipsius
PeterZ...I've read your entire blog...and I am in full agreement with its principles...and now that we have named the deceiver of men...what say all these who have been with you, and with these things, and with each other begin a blog in unison on what direction we should all take...it may take a while to hash these things out...and certainly controversy will arise...but it would seem clear to me now, that our next logical response would be to look to scripture and determine our course...this certainly is not an endevore for one man to determine...but for those who have made this plunge into light to see clearly theirs, and our direction...I believe the answers are there...it is simply for all of us together to mine them out...coming to an agreed upon consenses and follow in the direction that this instructs...
Any thoughts on this?
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Posted by hugh lipsius to 1/19/2006 07:06:26 PM
Hugh that is what we are doing in this and Hanchett's blog
I certainly agree that we should be seeking the Lord daily and in his Word. We need the fellowship of the saints as well. But we should also trust that God will teach us what we need to know when we need to know it. He is all powerful and knows every hair on our head. Just to have head knowledge will puff up. I would encourage all to become familiar with the early Church as revealed in the book of "Acts". In a few more days I will put up a post that may give some vision to the days ahead.
Peter,
I think it would be important to discuss what to do in the event that things get out of control. Maybe we should start a discussion on that very topic. I look forward to your post.
To the biologist if you are still around I recomend you read this link first & if you come back on monday I have some other things to tell you but I wont be able to post it till monday morning.
http://www.orot.com/ec.html#Anchor-TORAH-9779
Kyle
recently I noticed someone took it upon themselves to cut and paste a portion of my recent blog post "we have no king but Caesar" in this comments section. Readers here are welcome and encouraged to read the post in it's entirety at:
http://exposetheshadows.blogspot.com
but here is a portion of that segment as it was originally:
This man Bush was not born again, ever. He claims Billy Graham evangelized to him, Billy Graham denies that ever happened...Bush jr. never dealt with his alcoholism, just became a dry drunk one day, and now he's a former cocain abuser, a dry drunk, an irresponsible man who is the self proclaimed CEO of America (which, by the way has enough WMDs to wipe out the human race several times over) Doesn't that TERRIFY you? Because it has terrified me since the man got into office. And oh how things have gotten worse since November of 2000...just think about it for a minute. Try to remember how boring and normal things were before this all happened...do you remember? well, the truth is becoming more clear every day:
We are the reincarnation of Rome (our nation posesses the spirit of empire), Lazy, complacent, OBSESSED with sexy and violent forms of entertainment. The root of all evil is here at home, where the mightiest wheels of this world's war machine roll out from. China has a 2.3 million man army and that is our greatest threat, But we have a twin ocean barrier from everyone (except Mexico and Canada) and USAM has a multi-billion dollar munitions supply. We have Thousands of nuclear warheads, more than enough to wipe out everyone, and then wipe them out again to make sure. If not by explosion, then certainly by a fallout poisened atmosphere. These are basic facts, not conspiracy theories.
All empires rise and fall. All empires are mortal, just as man is mortal...America is a young empire, but already our reach exceeds our grasp...that's a fact. No empire lasts forever...and only one can.
The empire under a returned Christ, which is "the Kingdom of God"
(ps, I was posting as "young brother", but feel that name is no longer fitting... be not confused!)
To the anonymous above that was deleted; I HAVE NOT, or WOULD NOT put anyone's name up or ever betray anyone's confidence.I also did not even know his name till it was posted here. I wish that were also true of this man that has stirred up so much strife. I guess he was reaping what he sowed. I am not on an attack of anyone, but my mission is to show the light and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in doing so reveal the evils if this present world system. You are correct though, His name should not be mocked or revealed, thus I have taken it down. I want no more of this hatefulness here. I would suspect that it had touched a nerve in him, and also that it was him that posted that last attack under the anonymous.
I had deleted all his posts, because I wanted no links to his site on this blog, if someone wants to look him up, that is their decision. It will be God who will judge him and his motives. I have my suspicions, but I am not called to cast my opinion publicly, nor would I spread malicious gossip about anyone. What is happening in this day is the Lords work, and neither he nor I could stop it even if we wanted to.
I would also like to point out to those that follow this blog, this is not about making me a "Holy Man" or "Prophet" I am a sinner saved by grace. Rom:11:29: "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." I am just a vessel, Let my work be judged for itself, whether it be the truth, and from the Lord. If it brings forth life and hope and peace, and is in accord with the scripture. for the Spirit and the Word agree. If what I have prophesied comes to pass, you will know that I have spoken as the Lord has given.
Dear PeterZ,
I have always believed Bush to be the anti-christ. Keep up the good work and yes the progressives do have the spirit of Christ. These and others I believe have been blessed to see the truth.
I have never been much for the fundamental right wing so-called Christian churches. My late grandmother called them black stocking religions.
Thank-you for enlightening the people who will listen and to those who won't listen perhaps when the time comes they will see.
Sincerely,
Debbie
The fundamentalists have it all wrong in terms of the anti-christ. The senario is right but the anti-christ part is wrong.
I was taken aback by some of the comments on your webpage by persons who called you names and were'nt listening just defending what they have been brain washed into believing. Never have I seen such blind trust by the people in one man.
I refuse to attend any of the churces or organizations of the day because of their message of hate. They are more concerned that the homosexual will marry or take over the schools and these organizations, teach contrary to the bible. They teach what's on their agenda and that is to follow anti-christ.
George Bush and his administration have done far worse than Clinton ever did and by this I am speaking of his infidelity to his wife and then lying about it. But George W. Bush has committed acts unspeakable. These acts are not of God. So then, George W. Bush is not a true Christian as he claims to be. He actually changed churches because his own organization was speaking out against him and his agenda. He told the people in his first debate that Jesus Christ had turned his life around. He did this so he could get votes not because he is a true humble Christian concerned for the poor, the widow, and the children but because he wanted to be president. He didn't even look at his audience when making this claim. It was a rehearsed act.
It will get more and more difficult as time goes on to trust your neighbor. You may be turned into the authorities and jailed for life and tortured for speaking out against this anti-christ.
The world has gone insane and it seems at times there is no hope only prayer.
I too have done bible searching and it would seem that yes, George Bush is the anti-christ. He worships a god foreign to any of his predicessors, he is war hungry but the bible says he will fall and no one will come to his aid. This can be found in the book of Daniel. And these scriptures are not refering to Alexander the Great whom Bush also admires.
Sincerely,
Debbie
I think this question concerning the number 6 was explained in the post. It is both the whole system of man and centered in a person.
The debt ceiling can be raised, it is a common practice, but we are headed down the road to bankruptcy. As anyone would that has too much debt. At the moment other nations have a vested interest in keeping us afloat.
America is going bankrupt?
Latest budget projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) give lie to the argument that there is a shortage of revenue in Washington. CBO projects federal revenues in Fiscal Year 2006 will be 59 percent higher than in 1996.
Source
China and Russia have signed on to sending Iran to the Security Council, so it is now unanimous that the UN will take action against them, which will drive up oil further, despite OPEC's promises to keep up production.
Iran has said it will start full scale production of their nuclear "energy" if taken to the council.
If the U.S. and/or Israel attacks Iran, Hamas will attack Israel with Syria and Iran and possibly Russia, (Ezekial 36-39) which would surely bring in China for the Armegeddon scenario.
Isn't it interesting how we have these two countries (U.S. and Iran) that both have fundamentalist God-driven hard liners as their leaders?
Anonymous, good to have someone who keeps up on things. Last year Russia and China signed a pact together stating that together or separately they would not allow G.W.B. to make the whole world into his image (creepy wording, but that's the words they chose), and now they are siding with us just because Iran is defiant. Hasn't Iran always been defiant?
Susanne
I thought you might find some of these scriptures interesting
Some descriptive names in the bible about Satan
The provoker
The slanderer
"And through Peace he shall destroy many" (freedomes on the march)
He shall come in my name (jesus about the man of sin)matt
For many shall come in my name saying I am he (the chosen) DO NOT FOLLOW THEM! was the warning from Jesus in matt
Israel will be offered land in babylon, this is described as Israels deal with hell -Isaiah
The prince over the power of the air
Buffets (strike with force)
Satan took Jesus to the mountian and told him , I will give you power over all of the nations of the earth if you will bow to me just once, Jesus said no.
In Psalms calls polititians lying snakes lying from thier very first words, It starts out almost like a play on fox news fair and balanced news, Oh you high and mighty polititians which one of you is Fair? Not a one, giving favors in exchange for bribes, he allows the craft to prosper lying snakes , and through peace he shall detroy many.
The white horse of apocolyps bent on conquest.
Given a mighty sword.a pretend do gooder who rides out to start the whole thing
The red horse sent to take peace from the face of the earth. also given a mighty sword , Ironically the national guard in Iraq calls themselves THE RED HORSE. That has been thier name for a long time, look up on web search - red horse national guard. Also EXXON mobil uses the greek red winged horse pegasas, they are controling the Iraq oil.
The balck horse (famine) a days wage for a peck of wheat, prices are riding and jobs are being outsourced its happening now.insurance prices are getting out of control gas prices ect....
Jesus was the truth, Satan is called "the father of all lies"
OK here is the kicker. God said he would rise up the spirit of the first great king of greece also called the "he goat from the west see daniel). Alexander the great was a closet homosexual, he was an alcoholic at the time of is death he was the king of tyre, the king of babylon (he like bush owned it and had taken it by force), and the king of greece - he goat. He shall fly north south east and west over babylon but his feet will never touch the ground (first gulf war). It is explained this is not to happen until the time of the end.
Alexander was said to recognise himself in the scripture when it was shown to him, but he made an interesting comment, this cannot be me, I cannot fly. He knew this was not in his time.
The gog magog war actually does not happen until after the thousand years of peace as told after the total destruction of the MYSTERY BABYLON (America) is destroyed.
Modern day babylon is not a major importer exporter and sea port as the mystery babylon described in revelation is, this place is so hated that the world cheers when it is destroyed, can you think os a nation that is more hated right now than US? it is so despised that even the angels cheer when it is destyoyed.
There is so much I cant fit it all here.
America bankrupt. Better do a search on Leo wanta and tell me America is bankrupt. If we can retrieve our money America will soon change.
my friend
blessings be to you for your unblemished faith of the one and only one. For your faith has lead you to the truth.
Seek and you shall find it is written.
Soon you shalt know who i am also, and i will remember you.
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